SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police have cracked the case involving a militant attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori to Katra on June 9, by arresting one militant associate who acted as a guide and provided shelter to militants, officials said on Wednesday.
The militant associate, arrested in Reasi, has been identified as Hakam Din, son of Makhan Din, a resident of Bandhrahi, Rajouri.
Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma, said that Hakam Din acted as a guide, took militants to the spot through forests, and managed to take them back via a similar route.
She said a total of three Pakistani militantss were part of this attack, but the police had no prior information about it. “A general alert was issued due to the swearing-in ceremony of the new government and also due to the India versus Pakistan cricket match, but there was no specific input,” she said.
The SSP stated, “The terror attack case was registered under sections 302 and 307 of the IPC, section 7/27 of the Arms Act, and sections 16, 18, and 20 of the UAPA. Even before the day of the attack, the terrorists had stayed at Hakam’s home in Bandhrahi and were provided with food and shelter.”
For the last 10 days, Reasi police have arrested around 150 people related to this case whenever they received any information, including technical evidence, Sharma said, adding that the police have recovered Rs 6,000 from Hakam Din’s possession, which the militants had provided, but no arms or ammunition were recovered.
Replying to a question, Sharma said the case is still under investigation, but all three terrorists had stayed at Hakam Din’s house three times.
“No road opening party has ever been deployed in this area, and it was an unfortunate attack on pilgrims,” SSP Mohita said. “But after the attack, security has been improved, and people are advised to undertake the pilgrimage as they did before.”
